Issue 118

August 2014

The career highlights and welterweight musings of the last Strikeforce 170lb world champion 

BEST TITLE defense for Johny Hendricks?

“Me, why not (laughs)? I think the winner of Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown, depending on how the fight goes. As far as I’m concerned I’d love to fight Jake Ellenberger finally. I know it seems like there’s a dark cloud above this fight, he got injured first then I got injured, but we will put on an exciting fight for the fans; and I also want to fight somebody like Jake because I want to break into the top five. That’s how I’ll get my shot at the title.”

BEST thing about being a champion?

“Even though I have been out injured for a while now, I do still feel like the world champion. I am the last Strikeforce welterweight champion, and that makes me very proud. But I want to be the UFC champion, not just the now-defunct Strikeforce champion. I want to make a new path inside the Octagon. I will feel even more of a champion when I fight for the title in the UFC, and getting that belt is definitely something I am looking forward to.”

BEST moment of your career so far?

“There are two. Firstly, when I fought Nate Marquardt to win the Strikeforce welterwight title, because I became the first fighter from Belgium to win a major title in a major MMA event. And secondly, when I fought the first time in the UFC and won, because I became the first Belgian to do that. Those were two major goals I had, so when I accomplished them they were definitely the highlights of my career so far.”

BEST personal trait? 

“I am a good listener and learner. I was nicknamed ‘The Sponge’ by my former trainer, who said he taught me these different techniques and I was like a sponge because I’d learn everything so quickly and absorb the technique. I was able to learn everything he taught me very quickly. But I would say I am just a nice guy. At least that’s what my wife keeps telling me.”

BEST advice for a younger you?

“Don’t take things too seriously and enjoy the little things in life. I took my career really seriously when I was younger and I put a lot of stuff aside to focus on my career and my training. I sacrificed too much of my childhood which I’ll never get back now, and that’s sad. I would tell myself to enjoy life, go to some parties and allow the career to come later.”

BEST inspiration for fighting?

“Dan Henderson and my family. I get to see Dan almost every day at the gym and I just don’t know how he does it. He’s 43 years old, tough as nails and is also the nicest guy. He is there to help everybody at the gym, inside and outside the gym. He’s still fighting at the top of the UFC and he’s still the same person. He’s a huge inspiration for all the guys in the gym – even his own coaches.”

WHAT’S BEST, A KNOCKOUT OR SUBMISSION VICTORY? 

“It would have to be a knockout, after all, I’m best known for them. You can feel it when you land a good shot. Their reaction can often tell you if you have ended the fight with a knockout. So, yes, a knockout feels better.”

BEST opponent you’ve ever faced?

“Nate Marquardt because I used to look up to him before we fought. I used to follow his career long before I expected to fight him. He was very technical and it was an honor to fight him.” 

BEST rising star at 170lb?

“Gunnar Nelson looks good. I think he is coming along really well. And Ryan LaFlare also looks like a handful. I was disappointed when their fight got canceled, because that would have been a very good contest. It would have been really exciting.”

BEST fight in MMA today?

“I’m looking forward to the Jones-Gustafsson rematch. The first fight was incredible and I will love to see that again. The first fight was a tough one to be a judge and it was just so close. Maybe a draw would have been fair the first time around. But you have to beat a champion to become the new champ, so it was a fair result, I guess.”

BEST cartoon character resemblance?

“It’s a manga character in a series called Tough. It’s the story of a schoolboy who grew up training martial arts and I would say that his character is close to mine.”

Saffiedine on Jake Ellenberger

“i know it seems like there is a dark cloud above my fight with Ellenberger, he got injured first then I got injured, but we will put on aN exciting fight for the fans; and I also want to fight somebody like Jake because I want to break into the top five. That’s how I’ll get my title shot”